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    Studio XPS 1640 - Blinking Cursor At Start, No Windows Load

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by cygy2k, Aug 11, 2009.

  1. cygy2k

    cygy2k Notebook Consultant

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    My PC worked fine for the first few days and then all of a sudden about 1/2 the time I would try booting up I would get past the BIOS post screen and then would only see a blinking underscore cursor in the upper left and it wouldn't load Windows at all.

    I've reinstalled Vista SP2 clean, tried a clean install of Win7 RTM (fully legal) and then Vista SP2 clean - all with the same result of 50% or thereabouts the PC not getting past the blinking cursor underscore.

    Any similar problems?

    And yes, it happens regardless of drivers, versions, etc.
     
    cygy2k, Aug 11, 2009
    #1
  2. awentz66

    awentz66 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is there anything plugged into the USB like an external drive?
     
    awentz66, Aug 11, 2009
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  3. cygy2k

    cygy2k Notebook Consultant

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    I've tried with nothing plugged in and the same problem.
     
    cygy2k, Aug 11, 2009
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  4. sleey0

    sleey0 R.I.P. AW Side Topics

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    If you can, try a different HDD.

    If it still persists than it may be a wonky SATA controller (need a new mobo).
     
    sleey0, Aug 11, 2009
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